Animal-trap.



No. 799,472. PATENTBD SEPT. l2, 1905. R. L. KIRK.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1905.

l HHI'U'H" gg /Z I wom/Lto@ ROBERT L. KIRK, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1905.

Application ned January 10. 1905. serai No. 240,472.

T0 cir/ZZ whom, 712'; Duby cm1/007%:

Beit known that I, ROBERT L. KIRK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-T raps; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains tovmale and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in animal-traps.

The object of the invention is to provide a trap of this characterhaving a vestibule which will be operated by the weight of the animalentering' the same to close the entrance-door and open an exit-door intoa receiving compartment or cage, said vestibule being automaticall yreturned to its normal position after the animal leaves the same,thereby again opening the entrance-door and resetting the trap.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thetrap. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical sectional view through the front end of the trap,showing the vestibule in its normal position or set ready to receive ananimal. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the vestibule tilted and inposition to open the door into the receiving box or cage. Fig. 5 is adetail section on line 5 5, Fig'. 2.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a box 1, which may be of anysuitable shape and is here shown as rectangular. On the front end of thebox is arranged an inclined treadway 2, which is preferably formed ofiinely-corrugated sheet metal, up which an animal may easily run to anopening' or doorway 3, formed in this end of the box above said treadwayand to near one side of said end.

Within the box 1 is arranged a transverse vertically-disposed partition4, which forms in the rear portion of the box a receiving compartment orcage 5. In the partition 4: is formed an entrance-opening or doorway 6,which is arranged near the opposite side of the box fromv the opening 3and below the level of the same. J ournaled in the front end of the boxand in the partition 4; is a horizontal longitudinally disposed shaft 7,on which is fixed a vestibule or entrance-box 8, in the front and rearends of which are formed entrance and exit openings 9 and l0. To theshaft 7 is connected a depending` weighted bar or plate l2, which isadapted to balance the vestibule 8 in such a mannerthat the same will bebrought to and retained in a normal or receiving position, and in whichposition the entrance-opening 3 of the box and the entrance-opening 9 ofsaid vestibulebox will be in alinement, thus permitting the entrance ofan animal to said vestibule. Then the vestibule or entrance-box is inthis position, the exit-opening 10 of the same will be closed againstthe partition 4i, and when in this 'position the entrance-opening 6 inthe partition will be closed by an extension 8 on the end of theentrance-boxer vestibule.

At the lower edge of the entrance-opening 6 is arranged an inclinedtreadway 13, which extends to the floor of the cage 5, and down which ananimal may run. On the box l, at the inner edge of the entrance-opening3, is arranged an inwardly-projecting ange 14E, which is adapted to beengaged by the side edges of the entrance-opening 9 of thevestibule-box, whereby the movement of the same will be limited.

In operation as an animal enters the vestibule-box 8 through the alinedopenings 3 and 9 the least movement made by the animal to the oppositeside of the box 8 will cause said box to tilt downwardly, which movementwill bring the entrance-opening 9 opposite the end of the box l, whilethe exit-opening lO willbe brought opposite or in alinement with theentrance-opening 6 of 'the receiving-cage of the compartment 5, throughwhich alined openings the animal will pass. Immediately upon the animalleaving the entrance-box or vestibule 8 the weighted bar or plate l2 onthe shaft7 will return the box 8 to its normal position, therebyshutting oii the opening 6, thus trapping the animal, and at the sametime resetting the extrance-box to receive another animal.

A trap constructed as herein shown and described may be used forcapturing all small animals and is particularly well adapted forcatching mice. The automatic resetting features of the same will permitan indefinite number of animals to be caught.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inven- IOOIIO

tion will be readily understood Without re? fend of said box and havingarranged in its opposite ends inlet and outlet openings, saidl vestibuleor entrance-box being normally in position to open the inlet-opening insaid main box and to close an inlet-opening formed in said cage orreceiving-compartment, a shaft at the bottom of said vestibule and onwhich said vestibule is centrally journaled, and an overbalancing-Weightconnected to said shaft for holding said vestibule in set position andby which the same is restored to said position after being tilted by theWeight of an animal entering said vestibule, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witmesses.

c ROBERT L. KIRK. Witnesses z P. WI CULLoM, A. B. RAWLINS.

